Prokaryotic triterpenoids

Abstract
2.beta.-Methylhopanoids, a new series of triterpenoids was identified from 2 prokaryotes, 2.beta.-Methyldiplopterol was isolated from the methylotrophic bacterium M. organophilum, and 3 different 2.beta.-methyl-bacteriohopanepolyols from the cyanobacterium N. muscorum. The structures of these compounds was deduced by direct comparison with 2.beta.-methyldiplopterol synthesized from 22-hydroxyhopan-3-one.